“May We Have Unity In What Is Paramount, Freedom In What Is Subordinate, and Love In All Things”—the Head of the UGCC at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv
On August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day, an ecumenical prayer for Ukraine was held at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, along with primates of the Churches and leaders of religious organizations, participated in the prayer. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was represented by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC.
Following the “Our Father” prayer performed by a chamber choir, representatives of churches and religious organizations offered prayers for Ukraine one after another, asking for an end to the war, protection for the Ukrainian people, a just peace, and unity.
In his prayer, His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked God “for the gift of freedom, for the gift of a free, united, and independent Ukrainian state” and asked Christ, the King of Peace, to bring an end to the war, grant victory over the aggressor, and establish a just peace for Ukraine.
O Lord God, Father, Almighty One, Creator and Architect of the human race, today, united in prayer with all people of good will throughout the world, thank You for the gift of freedom, for the gift of a free, united, and independent Ukrainian state. Father, Your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior, is the King of Peace. We implore You today: end this war, grant victory over the unjust aggressor, and bestow the gift of just, heavenly peace upon our Motherland and our people.
Holy Spirit, Spirit of God’s love, You are the Spirit of unity—unity in diversity; we implore You: bring unity to our people. May we have unity in what is paramount, freedom in what is subordinate, and may Your eternal divine love triumph in all things.
Saints of our land, Holy Volodymyr and Olha, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Borys and Hlib, pray for your Motherland.
Our Lady, the Kyiv Oranta, cover our cities and villages, God’s people, and the wounded souls of Ukraine with your heavenly mantle.
May the blessed, holy, and gracious name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit be glorified in all things, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
The ecumenical prayer was held as part of the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations had issued this appeal the day before.
The gathering concluded with a joint performance of Ukraine’s spiritual hymn, “God, Great and One.”
Photo: Press Service of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine
